I'm Back!

Off to Milwaukee. I'm heading to Milwaukee to the Milwaukee Ukulele Festival this weekend  Oct 19-21, as a vendor and an instructor. I am so excited to have the opportunity to teach about the book I just finished "Thumpin on the Old Time Uke" Clawhammer Ukulele( available on Amazon). I'm taking a few ukes with me to take orders.....can't wait.

Also, I am planning on a new and exciting workshop "Abstract Acrylic Painting Beyond basics" this is going to be a workshop for the folks that are afraid to paint and have fun.  it seems some folks paint but don't have fun or it doesn't look like the picture....guess what no pictures to copy no failures how bout that. We will use none traditional methods like fingers, stick, sponges, combs paper towels ..and what ever you have in your front pocket. This is a can't fail workshop. let me know if you are interest. This will be taking place in the Atlanta area 2013.

Watercolor on canvas Follow-up

Yesterday I talked about the Schmincke Aqua primer that you use on canvas and other hard surfaces, allowing you to paint with watercolors. Well I think this is really good stuff. I painted two thin coats on a 14x18 canvas panel and let dry. I have used Fredrix watercolor canvas in the past and it's fairly tricky to use meaning you can  disturd a layer of paint real easy if you want to glaze over, so you have to get used to it, and I want to say that I have had some really nice results. Now, with the Aqua primed canvas first thing I notice while putting in a sky wash...you have to determine the angle you have your canvas because if it is angled much, the paint will run. So if you want the paint to stay where you put it, the panel has to be flat. This was somwhat of a problem, but on the ther hand I could steer the paint where I wanted it to go, and most of you who have watcched me paint, know that I paint pretty wet. The thing I liked about the primed canvas was the paint did go on as I expected not as the Fredrix panels did, also when I darkened an area, I didn't get the brush strokes that the Fredrix left. The really great thing I found was that you could lift color out verrrry easy, leaving sharp edges. I did this with a tissue not paper towel and just blotted. Really great for white lines, just paint the area with water and blot. I give this  primer high marks, and  plan to do more.

To finish off the painting I sprayed 2 coats of Krylon Matter Acrylic and now it ready to be framed....No Glass!

Schmincke Aqua Primer/ Etsy.com

I came across this primer in a magazine claiming it makes canvas and other surfaces accept watercolors. I bought a bottle from  Cheap joe's art stuff , 250ml for about $12. I am in the process of experimenting with it. I have been somewhat of a fan of the Fredrix Watercolor canvas which is a little tricky, but gives good results in the end. Cost wise , I'm not sure how many canvass I can get out of a bottle. The instructions say 3 coats....hmmm. Can you say ..."sell more product". I'm trying 2 thincoats. I will report back with the painting.

Also I have many paintings posted on the website: http://www.etsy.com/  This is a very cool website for people to sell artsy kind of things they make. If you go to the site and where it says handmade> click the dropdown and click>  people then enter> watercolorguy... in the seach ,and you will come to my store . Maybe you will see something you would like to own.

Watercolor sketching

Here are a couple of watercolor sketches that I did for my Wednesday watercolor class at Abernathy Art Center Atlanta. I did these little 7x10" painting to show how very little detail can produce great little watercolors, also these little painting can really help work out the planning stages of a larger painting. I always preach that you have to have a sketch before you start painting in order to have a chance at a larger picture. Just like getting in the car, you need to know where you are going, you don't just get in start driving ....then decide I'm going to the store. These can also be great fun if you do any kind of journaling. Strathmore has some great little watercolor journals that are very well made. Also you might try some of Derwents watercolor pencils. You just sketch like you would with a pencil then take a wet brush and go over what you sketched and miraculously you have a watercolor ...very cool. Try some of these little painting they're great fun.

Back to Blogging

It's been a while since I had a blog. It seems not too many people were subscribing to it even though it had plenty of content. Due to the recommendation of my computer guy , he said I needed to be blogging more often in order to get better position from search engines. I am in the process of pursuing more art classes and hopefully this will help as well as producing some how-to videos that I will post on youtube from time to time. Also I hope to get more exposure of my gourd banjo making. Many people don't knwo what a gourd banjo is and I hope to show and even have sound bytes to share. so this is the initial  setup once again. This time I hope some folks will subscribe.